Would It Kill You to Say Good Morning?
January 5, 2009 by Phil Gerbyshak
Filed under Business
John Blumberg shared a shocking statistic: 7% of employees leave their managers because they didn’t say good morning.
How hard is it to say “Good Morning” to the people that report to you?
Must be harder than I thought, as 7% of managers don’t say it often enough to their employees.
Being the imperfect manager that I am, I wondered to myself what I’m not saying to my team enough, and I came up with a few things I’m going to work into my daily conversation with my team.
A few statements:
Good morning.
Thank you.
I appreciate the work you do.
You make my job easier.
Great job!
A few questions:
How are you?
How can I make your job easier?
How is your family?
What’s new?
Anything you want/need to talk about?
Questions for you:
- What are a few things you can tell your team to show them you care about them?
- What are a few things you can ask your team to show them you care about them?
- Would it kill you to say good morning?
Good morning sunshine? photo credit to Rick
Hey Phil,
Good Morning :)
Here’s one …
I’m getting a cup of coffee. May I get one for you too?
It shows that you are not “superior” to them and that you are a regular person … makes you more approachable so that when issues pop up they know they can come to you.
G’morning Phil! I like CK’s comment above.
As for me, I think my staff would think that something is WRONG with me if I DIDN’T say Good morning! It’s an important way to start everyday.
On the flip side, don’t forget to end it that way as well! “Great job today, have a great evening!” or “Hope your weekend is relaxing”.
Bren
I have always been of the ilk that I don’t always say “Good morning” to people in the office. I have felt that once a week is good enough and have discussed this with some of them. However, this is probably just a reflection of what feedback I personally need. As a manager I have to think that others are different and have different needs. It does give me something to think about.
Phil: Very important stuff. What’s intriguing about this material is that there is a significant generational tinge to it. Silent Generation and some Boomers, think that your purpose at work is to work, and you have no right to expect anything from a manager other than a job and a salary. Of course, most boomers disagree–but are patient. X & Y both disagree strongly, and generation y is absolutely impatient.
These are merely differences, no right or wrong. Of course, studies show that positive feedback and interest in employees make for better productivity.
Phil,
Great post!
I try and say “good morning and “Thank you” or “I appreciate the great job you do!”
It must be done sincerely and honestly.In other wards from the heart
I will also send out e-mail ’s “I appreciate your extra effort with that student today”
I have been blessed with a a team that is a great asset that cares for our students and each other.
Humbly,
Devin
Good morning (and now good evening) Richard. Long day at work today for me, so I’m just catching up now.
CK – Great suggestion! I like that a lot. I do that quite a bit for my team, and I even buy it for them :)
Bren – Great to see you here. I agree with you. Good morning does set the tone for the rest of the day…
Roger – Excellent, interesting points. It’s not about me the manager. It’s about what your employees want/need.
Dan – Good call. Generations change the way we look at thing. Again, Roger’s point is spot on. “I have to think that others are different and have different needs.”
Devin – Good for you for your honest efforts! Sounds like you’re making a difference.
Are you sure you’ve been blessed…and not that you’ve been blessing? I think it’s both! Keep it up!!! You are making a difference!
Devin (and all): In regards to communication … Every communication from a manager to an employee is an opportunity to install optimism.
Also when it comes to praise – don’t just say “good job” – be specific!!! Praise like “Mike, great job on the McNeil account yesterday, that ad campaign got them to sign up!” Make sure it is relevent, specific, and soon after the act – not six months or a year later – later may be too late!
Phil and all ,
Thank you all! I have written down these bits of wisdom to use in my life and to pass it along to the other leaders in our company(w/your permission of course)
Sincerely,
Devin
One of my colleagues always used the test — can my manager be my friend?
It was a simple, but effective test. He wanted a manager who had his back and treated him like a person, not a tool.
Good stuff, Phil.
I’d also add, “Good morning, Stan. Would it be too much to ask for you to stop stealing the office supplies?”
:)
Mark – that should be “pilfering” – not stealing! LOL!!!
From Dictionary.com … To steal (a small amount or item)
That would apply to office supplies.
Employees leave because of the manager(s) before they quit the company.
I’ve been tracking all the comments about friendliness–and at the same time tracking my emotions about the responses. I’m from the oldest generation, and although I have a reputation for being very, very outgoing and extroverted, and easy to give praise, my own feelings about receiving it are very non-committal. If my boss gave me praise, that was fine–appreciated it. If he/she didn’t, so what? Just didn’t impact me in any noticeable fashion. I never expected it.
I’m writing this because I’m not certain of the cause for this lack of feeling. I’m pretty inconsistent. I coach clients to be friendly, do mbwa, and give praise, but I never cared whether I got it or not. It just wasn’t an emotional or rational issue for me personally. Thought this might be intriguing, or perhaps an instructive distinction. I know plenty in my generation like me–and some Boomers as well. But after that, the generations have a very different perspective.
Though we all have profound similarities–we also have some instructive cultural differences. But I can also get teary-eyed at a great symphony concert–or Brahms lieder.
It takes a real jerk to not say good morning or acknowledge a person saying good morning. Usually these people have other issues that are underlying and have to do with their lack of self image so they lash out by being anti-social to others. This only makes them appear to be more of a jerk but they feel they are making a statement by not saying anything at all. When in fact they are pushing themselves away from the people who could help them at some point. So remember what you do now and how you treat others may come back on you at some point.